Combined container and cradle



p l 1940. o. WILLIAMS El'AL 2,196, 1

COMBINED CONTAINER AND CRADLE Filed Jan. 2a, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 9, 1940. o. WILLIAMS El AL v COMBINED CONTAINER AND CRADLE Fil ed Jan. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wei/ d Patented Aprt9, 1940 vmartian s'ra'rss PATENT OFFlCE 1 j 2.196.512 COMBINED CONTAINER'ANECRADLE V Ona Williams, Chicago, and Herbert-Ward, Oak 1 Park, Ill., assignors to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application January as, 1939, Serial No. 253,238

" 7 Claims. (eras- 1 I ,1 ofthe blanks, and that the end of the blank not Our invention relates to articles which may be used alternatively as a container and toy and I has a special application to a device which may be made out of inexpensive sheet material, such as cardboard.

which may be formed by folding a blank of cardboard or the like, in combination with elements Which may be formed likewise out of sheetmaterial, such as cardboard, and which maybe detach- .ably connected to the box like member in order to support it in elevated position in the nature of a bed, cradle or the like. I

A further object is to provide a device of the type referred to which is simple in. construction, wherein all elements of the combinationmay be shipped in fiat, knocked down condition, the box being capable of .quick and easy folding when knocked down.

Still another object is to provide, in an article of the type referred to, supporting elements which may be quickly and detachably assembled with the box and which may be distorted from a uni, planar condition to form supporting struts or the like, whereby the box and its contents, even though the latter be heavy, may be rigidly sup-. ported.

Various other objects and-advantages will suggest themselves as the description proceeds.

Referring now tothe drawings forming a part of this .specificationand illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention:

Fig. l is a, fragmentary perspective view, of an 35.v article embodying our invention in its final assembled condition, parts being cut away in order to show the construction more clearly.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same at an intermediate stage in the assembly operation. Fig. 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the box like member in relation to a supporting member with which it is inner end panels I6. It will be understood, of

course, throughout the drawings that the dot and dash lines represent scoring to facilitate folding economy of space.

shown inFig. 4 is similar to that which is shown, only one end of the blank being illustrated for The panels I3, I3,.are provided with relatively narrow marginal flaps I8, I8, these flaps being provided with adhesive on one side whereby they may be permanently secured to thebottom panel H asindicated in Figs. 1-3. Substantially triangular connecting webs 19,. I9 are provided between each of the side panels I2 and the end panel 55, scoring 29 extending substantially as a median across said webs I9. Adhesive is provided on that portion lfi' of the webs I9 between the median scoring 20 and the panel I5. Ears 22,22 are also provided at each end of the panels 13. A marginal flap 23 is provided at the freeendof each ofthe end panels I6. e The folding of the box Ill will be obvious. As shown in Fig. 3, the glued flaps I8 are perma. nently secured .to the bottom panel H adjacent the juncture of that panel with the corresponding side panel I2. I9 is permanentlysecured to the end panel it. For shipping purposes, the article may be packed flat with the side panels I2-I3 overlying. each other, and the end panels Iii folded over so as to overlie the side panels and the end panels it.

When it is desired toformthe box intoa container, the side panels l2-,-I3, being, of course, coextensive because the flaps it are secured to the bottom panel I I, are'erected into vertical position, thus bringing up into vertical position the The glued portion Id of the web end panels It, the web l9 folding inwardly along the scoring 28 so as to take aposition as shown in Fig. ZbetWeen end panel I5 and the end panel 7 I6 the latter beingbrought up andaro'undinto the inside of the box and frictionally secured in parallel relation to the panel I5 by means of the flap23 which is arranged contiguously and parallel to the bottom panel II. The box is now securely erected. I g

'The supporting elements S as shown in Fig. 5 which may likewise conveniently be blanked out of inexpensive sheet material, such as cardboard or the like, comprise a pair of vertically extend ing legs 25,. 25 and a member 26 connecting said legs. The member26 isshown with an arcuate bottom edge '21 whereby said supporting members may serve as rockers. It will be understood, of course, that the connecting .member maybe otherwise formed and otherwise disposed, sothat the box may serve as a crib or other piece of toy furniture. The connecting member 26 is provided adjacent the centerthereof with scoring whereby a rectangle lip 28 may be pressed out to form a slot.

Extending upwardly from the connecting member 26 is a reinforcing member comprising a substantially rectangular panel 30 and a. tapered panel 3|, the latter having a terminal ear 32. Scoring is provided between the portions 26 and 30 and between 30 and 3|,

The supporting elements are readily assembled with the box in the following manner: A convenient method is to assemble the parts when the box is being erected as shown in Fig. 2. In this case the legs of the supporting member are drawn in straddling relation along the end panels IE-I 5 until the supporting member has taken the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the legs 25 partially extending into the fold of the web l9,

and the top edge of the connecting member 26 engaging the bottom of the box adjacent the end edge thereof. However, it is possible to assemble the supporting member with the box after the latter has been erected, inasmuchas the legs 25 are quite flexible and may readily be inserted within the fold of the web l9.

In any event, after the supporting member has been brought into the position shown, the panel 30 is bent along the scoring separating it from the connecting member 26 to a substantially horizontal position underlying and engaging the bottom panel H of the box, and the panel 3| is then bent downwardly along the scoring separating it from the panel 30, and the ear 32 isinserted in the slot formed by pressing out the ear 28. Thus, the panel 3| serves as a diagonal strut which firmly braces the box in relation to the supporting element.

One use of the device is asv follows: The box may be shipped in erected condition with a doll disposed therein, while the supporting elements S may be packed in flat relation to the box and arranged therein. After receipt by the purchaser, the supporting elements may be arranged in cooperative relation with the box to form a cradle or the like, as showninFig. 1.

Various changes coming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves 'to those skilled in theart and, hence, we do not wish to be restricted to the specificform shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit,

We claim:

1. In combination with a box folded to provide end spaces with lateral entrances, end supports formed of sheet material, eachsupport having a pair 'of members engaged in said spaces and having a'portion folded to provide an element engag- 3. In combination, a folded container having opposite side walls, each side wall having two layers of material affording opposed and normally adjacent corner portions, and detachable means interfitted and engaged with said portions for supporting said container in elevated position.

4. In combination, a paper box comprising a blank folded so as .to provide corner spaces between opposed and normally adjacent corner portions of said blank, and sheet material means having elements interlocked with said box and entered in said spaces and engaged with said portions to form a support for said box.

5. In combination, a paper box comprising a blank folded so as to provide corner spaces between opposed and normally adjacent corner portions of said blank, sheet material supporting means having elements interlocked with said box and entered in said spaces and engaged with said portions, and means integral with and folded away from and backupon said supporting means to brace said supporting means, said supporting means serving to support said box in elevated position.

6. In. combination with a box, a pair of supporting members formed of sheet material and each having a pair of arms, portions of said box engaging substantial areas on opposite sides of each arm, each member being folded to form a brace engaged with the bottom portion of said box. I

7. In combination with a box member folded to provide connector portions at opposite ends thereof, end support members formed of sheet material, each support member having connector portions engaged with the-adjacent connector portions at an end of said box member, each .interengaging pair of connector portions comprising a pair of. opposed plate-like parts on one of said members and an intermediate plate-like part on the other member.

ONA WILLIAMS. HERBERT WARD. 

